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100 Years

With new beauty products launching on a near-daily basis, there are a few iconic beauty essentials that have stood the test of time due to their exceptional formulas. We’d be lying if we said we didn’t steal a few of these from Momma Rebena back in the day and we still continue to add them to our shopping lists today.

Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Rosebud Perfume Co. $6

I seriously am smitten with these old-fashioned tins, aren’t you? The fact that the company is over 100 years old, family-owned and produces these lip balms in the good old US of A makes me beyond happy. They’re not expensive and work great as a lip balm, cuticle moisturizer and dabbed on chapped elbows or knees. It is also an excellent remedy for the treatment of diaper rash

Great Lash Washable Mascara, Maybelline $5

This lil’ pink and green tube of mascara sells every two minutes. Crazy! It’s a simple mascara with an easy to use wand and a dark, shiny formula to lift and separate your lashes. Maybelline was named after creator Tom Williams’ sister Mabel; in 1915, she gave him the inspiration to create cosmetics after he watched her applying Vaseline and coal to her lashes to make them darker.

Elnett Satin Very Volume Hairspray, L’Oreal $12

This only made its way to Canada a few years ago – it used to be that you’d have to smuggle it from overseas. What makes it so great? It’s super-light, brushes out clean, it doesn’t flake or leave hair sticky. (Although I could live without the slightly old-lady scent.) Sometimes when I’ve been sitting in fancy salon chairs, the stylist has busted out the Elnett instead of their own products to set my hairstyle. Doesn’t that say something?

Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow, Revlon $8

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in “Cherries in the Snow” (Color 440) is a cult color that has been around since 1954. While most makeup trends come and go, this particular raspberry-red shade withstood the test of time. The fantastic formula applies evenly with no feathering, does not settle on lines and does not highlight imperfections. It makes your lips look plump and healthy.

Vintage Ad – Fire & Ice

If you are on the fence about getting this color, don’t! You can never go wrong with Cherries in the Snow.

Hard As Nails Polish, Sally Hansen $3

This nail care classic was the first Sally Hansen product to come to the market and has been around for over 50 years and for good reason. One coat gives a layer of protection that also seals nail edges so that they’re less susceptible to splitting. It’s so versitile – wear it at all times – under color or on its own to add a subtle sheen to your natural nails. I personally like “natural version” that adds a pretty, sheer-pink glow to bare nails. Love this one – and it dries insanely fast. Bonus!

What beauty products are your favorite cult favorites? What products have been making you feel good for years? Feel more than free to share in the comments below – Rebena loves hearing from you!

Wanna see something cool? This is a seamless transition of 10 decades of beauty trends in less than 90 seconds!

Cut Video’s “100 Years of Beauty in 1 Minute” takes a model through 10 transformations, revealing the hair and makeup styles of years past. The clip speeds by quickly, but it takes a team of styling professionals to mold a pretty girl into each decade’s beauty standard.

As the looks range from the bobbed pin curls and cupid lips of the 1920s to the bouffant and crimson smile of the 1950s, the video also explores popular expressions of femininity. A woman in the 1960s might sport a peace sign along with bright blue eye shadow, and a more recent style of glossy lips likely demanded a selfie in 2010.

It’s no secret that hair and makeup styles evolve over the years, and we’re broadly influenced by popular media, conforming to certain trends to fit in. But with the stance on what is considered beautiful changing so drastically every 10 years or so, maybe we can hold off on jumping on each and every fashion bandwagon. As someone who irreparably fried her hair, I recommend not beating your appearance into submission simply for a style that will fade. Also, that picture of you sticking out your tongue and making a horn symbol with your hand could haunt you on the Internet forever.

As for today’s beauty standards? Looks like they don’t mean much, and they’re likely to mean even less tomorrow.